The Pittsburgh Steelers hold the NFL record for the most Super Bowl victories, with six championships under their belt. But their recent history hasn’t shown that kind of success. They haven’t had a playoff win since 2016, when they lost to the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship. Last season, the Steelers made it to the wild card round, led by Russell Wilson, but they got crushed by their longtime rivals, the Baltimore Ravens 28-14.
Heading into the upcoming season, the team has shaken things up. They traded for Seattle’s DK Metcalf, signing him to a four-year, $132 million deal, while sending George Pickens to Dallas. The biggest splash, though, was landing Aaron Rodgers, the 41-year-old, four-time NFL MVP. After a long career, Rodgers is heading to Pittsburgh, where he might get one last shot at gridiron greatness.
Big Ben on Why This Could Be Rodgers’ Last Ride
What makes this season feel like it could be Rodgers’ last? For starters, he signed just a one-year deal with the Steelers and at his first press conference with the team, he made it clear: it was Pittsburgh or nothing-he wasn’t interested in playing anywhere else. And then there’s the matter of his health. It’s been two years since his brutal Achilles injury, and Rodgers is pushing 42 (he’ll hit that milestone in December). The physical demands of the game don’t get easier with time-they only get harder. Pittsburgh icon Ben Roethlisberger, a two-time Super Bowl champ, shared his take on his podcast, Footbahlin With Ben Roethlisberger.
He’s pretty sure this will be Rodgers’ last season. Roethlisberger said, “I don’t think he’ll be around much longer after this year.” He said that when he came back from an elbow injury, he thought he was all better, but he wasn’t. You don’t realize it until the next season, when you’re actually back to normal. He might feel better now, but that doesn’t mean he’s got years left. I think this is it for him.”
Last year with the Jets, Rodgers had solid numbers-3,897 passing yards and 28 touchdowns-but his 5-11 record was a low point, the worst since his 6-10 rookie season with Green Bay in 2008. Roethlisberger might be right, and if he is, we could see a revitalized Rodgers this year, which would be great for fans. He’s got some more on his plate now than he did in New York, where he had a decent offensive line and playmakers.
Now he’s got Mike Tomlin, the coach who’s never had a losing season in 18 years. Tomlin will try to reach his 19th non-losing season, which would tie his record with Bill Belichick and put him close to Tom Landry’s 21 with the Dallas Cowboys.
T.J. Watt’s Role in the Rodgers Era
Another piece of the puzzle is T.J. Watt, the Steelers’ defensive superstar, who’s currently sitting out offseason activities as he negotiates a new contract. This isn’t the first time Watt did this. Back in 2021, he skipped out on training camp until Pittsburgh gave him the deal he wanted.
The result? He was unstoppable this season, racking up an impressive 22.5 sacks (tying the single-season record), forcing five fumbles, and snagging Defensive Player of the Year honors. If that pattern holds, Watt could again be the anchor of a Steelers defense that’s been stellar the past two years, featuring names like Cameron Heyward, Alex Highsmith, Minkah Fitzpatrick, and the new addition, Darius Slay, a Super Bowl winner. A strong defense could help Rodgers go far in the playoffs, which might be his last season.
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